Case in point: UT-Arlington winning the Sun Belt regular-season men's basketball title and claiming the No. 1 seed in the all-important conference tournament this week in New Orleans. The Mavericks open Friday against the winner of Coastal Carolina-South Alabama.

"At this time last year," standout junior forward Kevin Hervey said of the championship, "I wasn't even able to walk. It's a feeling that I can't even describe."

Now Hervey is back from last season's knee injury, averaging 17.3 points and 8.4 rebounds despite not being 100 percent for long stretches this season. And UTA (24-7, 14-4) has its first conference championship since winning the Southland in 2011-12.

"It feels real good," coach Scott Cross said. "It's definitely one of the things on our list as a goal at the beginning of the season."

But it's not the only thing, which is why UTA has more work to do despite an RPI of 39. The Mavericks almost certainly will need to win the conference tournament Friday-Sunday in New Orleans to reach the NCAA tournament.

As Sports Illustrated underscored last week, at-large NCAA bids for mid-majors have become endangered species.

The Mavericks got a reminder of their mortality in an 83-81 road loss to Louisiana-Lafayette to close the regular season.

"I think [Saturday's] loss will cause our guys to be a little bit on edge, which I think you need to be," Cross said. "When you win several games in a row, you can get a little too comfortable. ... It may end up helping us in the conference tournament."

UTA is certainly motivated.

"It's a dream," Hervey said. "You go to a mid-major school where you have to win the conference tournament to make the NCAA tournament. You've watched teams like George Mason and Butler go on runs in the tournament, and you think maybe that could be you. ....

"It would be unreal."

To claim the Sun Belt, UTA had to survive three January road losses after a nonconference season that included wins over Texas and No. 20 Saint Mary's.

The preseason favorite to win the Sun Belt, UTA started conference play 2-2 with losses to Texas State and Troy before turning things around.

"It's been pretty much win or go home, much like a conference tournament," Cross said. "Our guys had to have that mentality."

Since the slow start, UTA has won 12 of its last 14 games.

"We realized championships are not handed out to anybody," senior guard Drew Charles said. "We were going to have to win games on the road and defend the home court."

Cross pointed toward adjustments made by Hervey, who has been in double-figures rebounding in six of the last nine games and also become a better distributor.

"He's a unique talent," Cross said. "His passing ability makes him special. The shift is he's making all his teammates better with his passing ability. He's elevating everyone."

And there's been special moments late in the season that smack of destiny, like Erick Neal's game-winning 30-footer to sink Georgia State at the buzzer 68-67.

"To be honest with you, it's just hard work and being prepared for moments at that," Charles said. "I have complete confidence in this team, more so than in previous years."